Healthcare and Social Care - Mental Health Nurse
Healthcare and Social Care - Mental Health Nurse
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Mental health nurses work in hospitals and the community, to support people with mental health issues.
- Assess, support and build effective relationships with patients
- Identify when people are at risk and respond to those in distress
- Encourage patients to take part in therapies and social activities
- Provide physical care if a patient needs it
- Give medication, monitor its effect and update patient records
You could work at a health centre, at an adult care home, in an NHS or private hospital, at a client's home, at a GP practice or in a prison.
Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Mental Health Nurses tend to work between 37 to 38 hours a week. You could work evenings, weekends and bank holidays on shifts.
Starting: £27,055
Experienced: £40,588
You can do a degree in mental health nursing approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. You might be able to study another area of nursing alongside mental health nursing.
You might be able to do a degree in mental health nursing and social work. You'll need to check that the course is recognised by the relevant professional bodies.
You can also train as a mental health nurse in the armed forces.
You might be able to do a degree apprenticeship in nursing if you work in a healthcare setting like a hospital.
The degree apprenticeship takes around 4 years and is a mix of academic study and on-the-job training.
You'll need the support of your employer to do a degree apprenticeship.